2023 Purple Heart Days

Purple Heart Days have been a part of our family since 2016, but in 2023, we began documenting them as our community, both online and off, joined in. The strength of many purple hands coming together is truly inspiring. In October 2023, we faced the news that our middle son, Carter, needed a new pulmonary valve. His last open-heart surgery was at just 1 month old. Back then, our coping thought was, "He will never remember."

Now, at 7 years old, we knew he would remember this journey. What we wanted him to hold onto was the love and support surrounding him—and that’s exactly what happened. As we left the hospital, we had so much to celebrate. Thanks to the amazing traveling purple hearts throughout our community on the day of his second open heart surgery he will always remember being wrapped in the strenght of our incredible community.

This year, both Jolene and Declan faced medical challenges. Jolene received her third set of tubes, along with other treatments from the ORL department, to improve her hearing and reduce ear infections. We are also hopeful for Declan’s upcoming procedure to widen his sinus pathways, which should help reduce his winter illnesses and manage inflammation.

Purple Heart Day Messages

Shaun White

Olympic Gold Medalist, Snowboarder

Know those moments when God puts you in the right place at the right time, that was tonight… 

As most of you know Carter was diagnosed in utero with Tetralogy of Fallot. At the time of diagnosis the cardiologist shared with us that Shaun White the snowboarder also has TOF. In that moment the weight of the diagnosis seemed a little lighter. We weren’t sure if we were going to make this trip tonight but something in me told me to go (despite the insane weekend schedule we have.) There were tears, more hope for the future and a sense of celebration. Although, as much as Shaun has inspired us I told him that I needed to meet his mom. It is his mom I think of often as I watch Carter race up and down the soccer field or take the next level on the mountain. I remind myself that just as she didn’t hold Shaun back, I won’t hold Carter back—though sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

The moment doesn’t end there though. About two hours later as we were closing the place up a sweet couple comes up to us and said we over heard you tell someone your son has TOF and they proceed to tell us that they are expecting and just found out their baby was just diagnosed with TOF in utero. We shared with them the hurdles, the ups, the downs and the moments of amazingness. And wild the same amazing doctor will also be delivering their baby.

It was an all around powerful encounter filled with shared tears and hope—a connection we were meant to have, one that reminded us we’re all part of something bigger.